REVIEW: BLACK PHONE 2

3/5

Return Call

114 Mins. Starring: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, Demián Bichir & Ethan Hawke. Screenplay: Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill. Director: Scott Derrickson. In: Theatres.

Pumpkins rotting on the porch isn't really a thing here in Japan. As soon as scary season is finished, the festive feeling of Christmas comes. And even those trees and decorations end up on a milk carton, come the literal Boxing Day, for a functional and practical place. Nevertheless, after scaring screens in the states, 'Black Phone 2' finally connects with audiences in the land of the rising sun. Halloween may be over, but this sinister sequel still haunts. The first rotary 'Black Phone', in a cubicle Colin Farrell is familiar with, became a cult hit in the COVID Krueger-d 2021. As 'Dead Poets Society', 'Reality Bites' and 'First Reformed' acting great Ethan Hawke, and his iconic mask (that can change facial expression), became one of the newest and most underrated horror villains. Scaring the beejeebus out of a young Mason Thames, Madeline McGraw, and their pop, nursing grief with drink, Jeremy Davis. 'The Black Phone', from 'The Exorcism Of Emily Rose' and 'Doctor Strange' director Scott Derrickson (with a screenplay with C. Robert Cargill ('Into The Dark')), dialled up the numbers. And now here we are in the wilderness of sequel territory.

But skating on thin, 'Little Women' ice, don't hang up, 'Black Phone 2' works, even though the last time we saw Ethan Hawke's Grabber, he was fish food. But hey, if you can hear dead people from the sixth sense of a landline, then stranger things can happen. This supernatural horror film sees Thames and McGraw's Finney and Gwen heading to a winter youth camp that looks like something straight out of the 'Dog Years' of an old Maggie Rogers video. And in this frozen tundra, they suddenly become in grabbing distance again. All whilst trying to investigate, not only what happened to three boys, but what also drove their own mother to death. After Derrickson, Cargill and Hawke gave us 'Sinister' (to those who read my review, I finally faced my fear and watched Jack White in concert, this year), they knew that grainy, camcorder like footage finds fear in theatres. And after this one, you'll never watch a home video again. Let alone pick up the phone. The tone is that terrifying.

Back to black, Mason Thames is on a career tear this year. What with his big-three as the lead in the live action version of 'How To Train Your Dragon', the award worthy 'Regretting You', and now as the face of this franchise in front of the mask. He really comes in to his own here, with a commanding performance, whether wailing on some guy, or refusing to run scared from 'The Purge' star who haunted his boyhood. The great Jeremy Davies (the once who frustratingly broke your heart in 'Saving Private Ryan', unrecognizable from that here) offers even more nuance as the alcohol addled father. Whilst sequel addition Demián Bichir ('The Hateful Eight', 'Alien: Covenant') adds even more grit and gravitas with a cabin beard almost as knotted and knitted as that cable knit sweater. But in this sequel, it's Madeleine McGraw (with some "choice" words) who's the real star of the show, coming out, like an exorcism. 'Ant-Man and the Wasp's' Hope, who looks like she could be the sister of Nancy in 'Stranger Things', is another star for sure. Even next to a great like Ethan, who is having his own year with the one for them, and one for him in the Oscar worthy 'Blue Moon'. But just wait until he calls you here. Nothing is phoned in from an actor who always connects. This receiver won't fade to black. It's back! Pick up. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Black Phone', 'Sinister', 'Blue Moon'.